1994 Volvo 850 Turbo from North America - Comments

15th Nov 2007, 14:25

I have a 94 Volvo 850 turbo that's been a great car with few problems - but now it intermittently won't start. I see lots of comments regarding this problem and some have been very helpful. Someone mentioned the problem could be solved by "Checking the ignition relay. When you open the hood its the gray one under the fan cowling on the front slam panel." However, there's nothing called an ignition relay in any manuals or on the web. What is this part really called so it can be found and ordered?? Can anyone help?

29th Jan 2008, 04:07

1st Feb 2008, 15:39

I have read all the comments on here regarding the 850 turbo, and have come up with a conclusion; All the cars on here appear to be american. Mines is a European model as I live in Northern Ireland and I have absolutely no fault (turbo seals only) and it has 160k miles. It does not have a perfect history, not always serviced on time etc. So my word of advice if you want a good one, is save up for shipping costs and buy a euro model; they are obviously a lot lot better.

19th Feb 2008, 02:07

I have an 850 t-5 and it has been awsome, only problem with the turbo was replacing O2 sensor. I think you may have got a lemon. It must me so bad that you've kept the car for ten years... if its that bad get rid of it and stop ragging on one of the most reliable cars period.

22nd Feb 2008, 22:18

We own a 94 850 Turbo with 150K on it. We bought it used with 60K on it. The car is amazingly comfortable and a blast to drive. The only major item we have replaced is the transmission, but we've had a lot of the above mentioned little things go wrong-electrical anomalies, the headliner sags, and it has a nagging habit for draining batteries, so that if you don't drive it for a week or so, the battery is totally dead, non "jumpable", kaput. We've had this looked at and no one seems to be able to figure it out. That not withstanding, we put some heavy duty brakes on it, and drove it in a BMW club drivers course at Watkins Glenn, NY for a weekend and it rocked. It was the only wagon out there, but it hauled, big time!

Note to all the "go drive a Honda" refs, we also own a 2001 Honda van, also with 150K, which is falling apart. The Volvo is twice as old and has held up much better comparatively.

13th Aug 2008, 18:05

I am considering getting back in a Volvo and in my research learned that Volvo has a recall or service bulletin out to remedy a starting problem when the 850 is hot, especially during the summer. The owner explained you could leave the car to cool off and in the evening would start like nothing was wrong. The local Volvo shop replaced some incidental part/switch/sensor under the hood and understand the problem was solved. Hope this helps. Signed, Loved My 240DL.

21st Aug 2008, 20:02

Hello Volvo 850 owners. Wow! I googled the site to check out a few comments to see what went wrong with my 95 850 turbo, and I saw all of the 94 850’s owners comments so negative.

I talked to car owners all the time, since I work for the federal government, and they all wished they had no car payment, and a car with character. I can’t tell one Honda Accord from a Civic, and everybody else is made by Ford now!

My story: Since owning my Volvo 850 turbo since 98 with 44K mikes, and from a lease program, I have no real complaints. New fuel-pump at 160K, and a starter at 170K. The car is very heavy, and it can fly. I have custom chrome wheels, tinted windows, and it’s off white. Very attractive car, and folks can’t believe its’ 13 years old with 187,000 miles.

On Sunday, I was doing around 85 mph and I needed a lane change to get to my exit, but a woman was talking on her cell phone ignoring my request to move into her lane. I quickly pressed the accelerator, but it lost pressure with zero turbo boosters. I was alarmed, because I had my beautiful three children in the car and we were on the expressway with crazy Sunday drivers. I really didn’t want to stop on the expressway and wait for a tow truck. So, I kept the car in the shoulder lane and traveled a good two miles and got off the expressway. She didn’t shut down until we were safely off the expressway, and we pulled into a nearby gas station near an air conditioned McDonald's.

My wife later came to our rescue in her 2004 Audi A4, that I had recently replaced a rack & pinion steering system (60K miles) for $1200, and four new tires at $550.00.

My Volvo has been worth the expense to me, but it’s coming close to making her a local community drive, and get a new car. It’s hard decision to buy from Volvo, because the Volvo truck is their only attractive vehicle, and it has transmission problems according to my mechanic. My only two choices are the Jeep products and Audi. The Audi’s are very slick with plenty of bells and whistles, and extremely fast with all-wheel drive. The Jeeps are tough and have long life, but no slickness to them! Everybody say, lease a Lexus and call it a night! I may go with Audi cars.

23rd Aug 2008, 04:39

To the above 850 owner. Buy the XC90 - but not with the T6. The XC90 is the best SUV out there. It's only the T6 with transmission problems. Buy the 2.5T or V8 and love it! The Audi will cost a ton in the long run.

1st Nov 2008, 13:54

Strange. My family ran nothing but Volvos for the last 30 years, replacing them on a fairly regular basis. When the 850 came out we tried one - and hated it. If you can understand, it didn't FEEL like a Volvo. We stuck with a last of the line 940, which has now passed 300,000 miles. It's unlikely we'll ever buy another new one.

6th Dec 2008, 16:32

I have a Volvo 850 turbo sedan. It has 290,000km on it and it runs like new. I am 16 and it is my first car. The only problem I had with it was the fuel relay, which was a 60$ fix. Other than that I have had no problems with it, and it gets abused fairly often. I have no regrets for buying this car for my first.

17th Aug 2009, 00:12

I have a 1994 850 turbo. it has has been religiously serviced by a "volvo only" mechanic. it has been a very costly car. it currently has 150,000 miles. I believe I have just about replaced it all. the most aggravation has been electrical - the random check engine light and the brake lights have a life of there own. I replaced the transmission several years ago. I had to put titanium type bakes in as it chews up brakes. all this said, I find the interior design superb. when I drive other cars, I find myself appreciating the volvo. not sure if I will ever buy another.